Massive Puerto Rico Grid Modernization Underway

As official hurricane season barrels down on the Caribbean, this
month the LUMA Energy consortium embarks on an unprecedented $20
billion, 15-year project to rebuild the damaged, long-neglected
electric infrastructure on Puerto Rico. 


In this episode of Grid Talk, host Marty Rosenberg follows up
with two former guests to get an update on the project. 


Wayne Stensby is the President and CEO of Luma Energy. David
Owens is the Vice-Chair of the Puerto Rico Electric Power
Authority.


“We will be administering the deployment of the FEMA funding to
rebuild what is desperately needed here in Puerto Rico in terms
of a badly dilapidated and damaged… transmission and
distribution…and kind of all the elements of technology in the
power system,” said Wayne Stensby. 


FEMA, the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency, is providing
$10 billion to support the effort, one of its largest
undertakings ever. 


“We interact extremely well with the FEMA, with the Department of
Energy, with other agencies who have a keen interest in the work
that Wayne is going to be doing to rebuild the grid, so I think
we’re on target,” Owens said. 


David K. Owens is an accomplished executive with extensive
experience in public policies surrounding utility operations,
strategic planning, technology development, rate making and
regulation. He is recognized as one of the foremost authorities
on electric utility issues, industry restructuring, and
transformation. His experience in the electricity sector includes
leading the Edison Electric Institute’s (EEI’s) efforts over a
broad set of issues that affect the future structure of the
electric industry and new rules in evolving competitive markets.


He spearheaded efforts to enhance the public policy climate for
investments in America’s electric infrastructure with emphasis on
the role of new technologies to address climate change, and to
enhance energy efficiency through smart buildings, smart
appliances, smart meters, and smart electric grids.


Mr. Owens is a graduate of Howard University with a Bachelor and
Master of Engineering degrees. He also has a Master in
Engineering Administration from George Washington University.


Luma Energy was formed Quanta Services, ATCO, and Innovative
Emergency Management to rebuild Puerto Rico's electrical grid.


Mr. Stensby joined ATCO in 1988 and has held a variety of
leadership positions, including assignments in Canada, the U.K.
and Australia. Most recently, in mid-2019, Mr. Stensby was
appointed Executive Vice President, Corporate Development, where
he was responsible for the growth of Canadian Utilities’ global
portfolio of investments in premier energy infrastructure. 


Mr. Stensby holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
from the University of Alberta and is registered as a
Professional Engineer with APEGA.